Chain Tensioner/Guide

Hello All. I finally purchased the bike engine kit and have it installed. What a fun project. I got to ride my new motorized bike for about 8 miles before the chain tensioner/guide screw was stripped and useless. Now, I have to find a replacement or better solution. In browsing some of the forums, I see a lot of mods and interesting work around for this. I have been to every hardware store and bike shop in town and cannot find anything that will do.

Any suggestions

1) Buy another crap replacement chinese part?
2) One bike shop offered a guide that is used for tandem bikes. It looks like it "could" work, but the teeth are not too deep. Also, it does not have a groove like the part that came with the kit. I saw one post with someone that had soemthing similar. Could this work?
3) I have been referred to a metal fabricator to try and provide the stripped bolt that holds the plastic tensioner/guide in place.

I appreciate any advice or suggestions you have. I appreciate your help.

Have you tried to press out the bolt that is stripped from the roller? It should come out with light whack.

How about replacing the roller assembly with a bolt and a skateboard wheel?

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Yes, I got the bolt out, it was stripped. That bolt is a proprietary piece that holds it on, but allows it to spin. The local motorcycle shop had a piece that would be similar to the skateboard wheel, but there is no guide on there. How important is the "guide" aspect of the groove in this piece?

It's (the groove) not, the chain just runs across the roller, it's not really a guide, but more a way of facilitating chain adjustment on a wheel that already has one chain on it.

Don't get the chain too tight. 3/4"-1" of play will do it.

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

I drilled out my center bolt( used a metal lathe) that mounts the chain roller and inserted a usa(american) bolt in its place that I can reef on and not strip I think the bolt is a 5/16" dia
I have a post on this forum showing what I did as well but then again I'm not the best at using the search but if you look for them that I posted you will run into it someday.

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norms-iron-works.tripod.com

If it were me, and if it is a coaster brake type bike. I would set the bike rear wheel for the motor chain without the tensioner, then put the tensioner on the bike chain with just a bolt and nut to hold the wheel in place. Since the bike chain will get very little use ,all it will do is keep it tight. It won't need to spin.

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visit my blog for Riding in the hood,... The home brew bike journal....http://frictiondrivebicycles.blogspot.com/ The deacon's fiction

My sprocket for the engine is on the opposite side of the 7 speed pedal power sprockets. Pedal is on the right and engine sprocket on the left - looking from the rear.

I did this and it works GREAT.............

Motorized Bicycle Spring Loaded Chain Tensioner

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"No such thing as a stupid question, just a stupid answer"

48cc Grubee Starfire Round Head......

There ya' go.

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Thanks. I ordered these parts from TSC and they should arrive next week. Thanks for the advice. You guys are great.